spleen

PRONUNCIATION:

(spleen)

MEANING:

noun:
1. An abdominal organ serving to clean blood.
2. Bad temper.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French esplen, from Latin splen, from Greek splen. Earliest documented
use: 1300.

NOTES:

In earlier times it was believed that four humors controlled human
behavior and an imbalance resulted in disease. According to this thinking,
an excess of black bile secreted by the spleen resulted in melancholy or
ill humor. Also, spleen was considered to be the seat of emotions. To vent
one's spleen was to vent one's anger.

USAGE:

"On other issues Mr Ivanishvili has been full of spleen about misrule,
but hazy about what he would do differently."
A Stunning Victory; The Economist (London, UK); Oct 6, 2012.